Joseph Confronts His Brothers Read Genesis 42. What happened here, and how does it reveal the providence of God, despite human evil and malfeasance? The famine obliges Jacob to send his sons to Egypt to buy grain. Ironically, it is Jacob who initiates the project (Gen 42:1). The unfor- tunate old man, a victim of circumstances beyond his control, unknow- ingly sets in motion an amazing chain of events that will lead to being reunited with the son for whom he had mourned so long. The providential...
Jun 13, 2022•14 min•Ep. 1403
Joseph’s Rise to Power For Joseph, Pharaoh’s dreams revealed what God was “about to do” (Gen. 41:28, NKJV) in the land. Joseph, however, does not call on Pharaoh to believe in his God. Instead, Joseph’s immediate response is action. Joseph proposes an economic program. Interestingly, only the economic part of Joseph’s discourse is retained by Pharaoh, who seems more interested in the economic lesson than in the spiritual meaning of the dream and God’s role in producing it. Read Genesis 41:37–57....
Jun 12, 2022•13 min•Ep. 1412
Read for This Week’s Study: Gen. 41:37–46, 1 Kings 3:12, Genesis 42, Rom. 5:7–11, Genesis 43, Genesis 44, Genesis 45. Memory Text: “And Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt’ ” (Genesis 41:41, NKJV). Joseph is now leader of Egypt, and his own brothers will bow before him without knowing who he is (Genesis 42). Joseph’s brothers will humble themselves when Joseph forces them to return with Benjamin (Genesis 43), and—when Benjamin’s safety is, they fear, threatene...
Jun 11, 2022•7 min•Ep. 1411
Further Thought: Ellen G. White, “Joseph in Egypt,” pp. 213–223, in Patriarchs and Prophets. “In early life, just as they were passing from youth to manhood, Joseph and Daniel were separated from their homes and carried as cap- tives to heathen lands. Especially was Joseph subject to the temptations that attend great changes of fortune. In his father’s home a tenderly cherished child; in the house of Potiphar a slave, then a confidant and companion; a man of affairs, educated by study, observati...
Jun 10, 2022•8 min•Ep. 1410
The Dreams of Pharaoh Read Genesis 40:1–41:36. How are the dreams of Pharaoh related to the dreams of the officers? What is the significance of this parallel? The providential character of the events continues. Over time, Joseph is put in charge of the prisoners, two of whom happen to be former officers of Pharaoh, a butler and a baker (Gen. 41:9–11). They are both troubled by dreams that they cannot understand, because “there is no interpreter” (Gen. 40:8). Joseph, then, interprets their respec...
Jun 09, 2022•17 min•Ep. 1409
Joseph, a Slave in Egypt We now pick up the flow of Joseph’s stories, which have been “inter- rupted” by the Tamar incident. Joseph is now working as a slave for the “captain of the guard,” who is in charge of the prison for royal officials (Gen. 40:3, 4; Gen. 41:10–12). Read Genesis 39. In light of the example of Joseph’s working as a man- ager under Potiphar, what are the factors that led to such success? Almost immediately, Joseph was characterized as a man of success (Gen. 39:2, 3). He was s...
Jun 08, 2022•12 min•Ep. 1408
Judah and Tamar The story of Tamar is not out of place here. This incident follows chrono- logically the sale of Joseph in Egypt (Gen. 38:1), and it is consistent with the fact that Judah has just left his brothers, which points to his disagreement with them. In addition, the text shares a number of common words and motifs with the preceding chapter, and it carries the same theological lesson: an evil act will be turned into a positive event linked to salvation. Read Genesis 38. Compare Judah’s ...
Jun 07, 2022•14 min•Ep. 1407
The Attack on Joseph However horrible the events that were to follow, they’re not hard to comprehend. To be in that close proximity to, and even to be related to, someone whom you hated would inevitably lead, sooner or later, only to trouble. And it did. Read Genesis 37:12–36. What does this teach us about how dangerous and evil unregenerate hearts can be and what they can lead any one of us to do? _____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________...
Jun 06, 2022•11 min•Ep. 1406
Family Troubles Jacob has, at last, settled in the land. While Isaac was only “a stranger,” the text also says that Jacob “dwelt in the land” (Gen. 37:1). Yet, it was then, as he was settling into the land, that the troubles began, this time from inside the family. The controversy does not concern the possession of the land or the use of a well; it is, mainly, spiritual. Read Genesis 37:1–11. What family dynamic predisposed Joseph’s brothers to hate him so much? _________________________________...
Jun 05, 2022•10 min•Ep. 1405
Read for This Week’s Study: Genesis 37; Matt. 20:26, 27; Acts 7:9; Genesis 38; Genesis 39; Gen. 40:1–41:36. Memory Text: “Then they said to one another, ‘Look, this dreamer is coming!’ ” (Genesis 37:19, NKJV). The story of Joseph (Genesis 37–50) covers the last section of the book of Genesis, from his first dreams in Canaan (Gen. 37:1–11) to his death in Egypt (Gen. 50:26). In fact, Joseph occupies more space in the book of Genesis than does any other patriarch. Although Joseph is just one of Ja...
Jun 04, 2022•5 min•Ep. 1404
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “The Night of Wrestling,” pp. 195–203, in Patriarchs and Prophets. “Jacob’s experience during that night of wrestling and anguish rep- resents the trial through which the people of God must pass just before Christ’s second coming. . . . Such will be the experience of God’s people in their final struggle with the powers of evil. God will test their faith, their perseverance, their confidence in His power to deliver them. Satan will endeavor to terrify them wi...
Jun 03, 2022•8 min•Ep. 1406
The Death of Rachel Read Genesis 35:15–29. What other woes did Jacob face within his dysfunctional family? As soon as Jacob leaves Bethel, three interrelated incidents mark the last step of his journey toward the Promised Land: Jacob’s last son is born; Rachel dies; and Reuben, Jacob’s first son by Leah, sleeps with Jacob’s concubine. Though the text doesn’t say why the young man would do something so evil, it could have been that he wanted to some- how defile the birth of Jacob’s last son and t...
Jun 02, 2022•13 min•Ep. 1402
Prevailing Idolatry Read Genesis 34:30–35:15. What lessons can we take about true wor- ship from what happened here? Immediately after Jacob’s complaint that his peace with the Canaanites had been compromised (Gen. 34:30), and after his two sons were rebuked (Gen. 34:30), God urges Jacob to leave Shechem and return to Bethel in order to renew his covenant. Indeed, the Lord tells him that, once he gets there, he needs to build an altar. Meanwhile, the first thing recorded after God’s command is J...
Jun 01, 2022•10 min•Ep. 1401
The Violation of Dinah Now that Jacob has reconciled with his brother, he wants to settle in the land of Canaan in peace. The word shalem, “safely” (Gen. 33:18, NKJV), from the word shalom, “peace,” for the first time characterizes his journey. After having purchased a piece of land from the inhabitants (Gen. 33:19), he erects an altar there, showing his faith and his realization of how dependent upon the Lord he really is. For every one of the sacri- fices offered, there was an act of worship. ...
May 31, 2022•11 min•Ep. 1400
The Brothers Meet From Peniel, “the face of God” (see Gen. 32:30), the place where he had this experience with God, Jacob moves now to meet with his brother. After 20 years of separation, Jacob sees him coming with 400 men (Gen. 33:1). Jacob is worried and, therefore, prepares himself and his family for whatever might happen. Read Genesis 33. What connection is there between Jacob’s experience of seeing the face of God at Peniel and Jacob’s experience of seeing the face of his brother? What is t...
May 30, 2022•11 min•Ep. 1399
Wrestling With God Gone from Laban, Jacob soon has another experience with God. Knowing that his brother, Esau, is coming with “ ‘four hundred men’ ” (Gen. 32:6), Jacob prays fervently to the Lord, even though he acknowl- edges that “ ‘I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant’ ” (Gen. 32:10, NKJV). Jacob, truly, has a better understanding of what grace was about. And how does the Lord respond? Read Genesis 32:22–31 and Hosea 12:3, 4. ...
May 29, 2022•9 min•Ep. 1398
Read for This Week’s Study: Gen. 32:22–31; Hos. 12:3, 4; Jer. 30:5–7; Genesis 33; Gen. 34:30–35:29. Memory Text: “And He said, ‘Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed’ ” (Genesis 32:28, NKJV). The family saga of Jacob continues, both the good and the bad. Yet, through it all, the hand of God and His faithfulness to the covenant promises are revealed. This week follows more of Jacob, now that he had left Laban and, r...
May 29, 2022•8 min•Ep. 1397
May 28, 2022•31 sec
